Your Course of Study
Through lectures, group discussions, case studies, and a hands-on exercise, you will develop a new perspective on the multifaceted issues that investors face over the course of numerous market cycles. Engaging in robust debates and practical exercises will strengthen your problem-solving and decision-making skills. As a result, you will return to your company better prepared to formulate an effective investment strategy, raise needed capital, and facilitate productive dealmaking.
Program elements include:
Private Equity Game Simulation
Crafted by veteran venture capitalist Professor G. Felda Hardymon and colleagues, this multiyear simulation enables you and your team to sharpen diverse skill sets as you compete with peers:
- Discover the best deals in a selected industry sector
- Evaluate potential investments and negotiate terms
- Compete with other teams to finance the best opportunities
- Explore the risks and rewards of using debt to enhance returns
- Establish the ideal investing scenario for each company
- Build the reputation of your team's "firm" and the value of its fund over time
Private Equity Globalization
Today, capital flows freely across both national and regional boundaries. While exploring the dynamics of global capital and global companies, you will improve your ability to:
- Manage a multinational fund versus one run from a single office
- Adjust your investment strategies for the varying demand-and-supply dynamics of different countries and regions
- Assess the impact of traditional management practices and the localization of investments
- Anticipate exit difficulties and other risks
Emerging Markets
New high-growth markets bring a wealth of opportunities, but often require a different investment style. As you delve into the complexities of emerging-market investments, you will learn how to:
- Identify new funding opportunities
- Embrace earlier-stage investments
- Understand the vast differences between fundraising and investing efforts
- Make decisions that recognize the distinct financial and cultural aspects of a country or region
The Implications of Both Firm and Fund Size
Are your investment strategies aligned with the size of your firm and your fund? Addressing the unique challenges faced by firms at different stages of growth, the program helps you to:
- Understand how the size of your firm or fund affects the perceptions of investors, target-company managers and owners, as well as the broader investment community
- Explore how firm and fund size can influence deal sourcing and selection, enterprise valuation, portfolio mix, and the management of portfolio companies
"The Harvard Business School Executive Education Private Equity and Venture Capital program was a powerful and life-changing experience. One of the many goals that I had in attending this program was to explore areas of private equity and venture capital where I felt that I needed to gain experience in a broader context in order to continue advancing in my career. This program fulfilled that goal and accomplished far more. At HBS you are provided with a tremendous platform for actively collaborating with and learning from both professors and participants. Each day professors presented us with compelling data and really challenged us to think outside of the box. There are no words to describe the energy in the classroom. We had the opportunity to review and debate certain issues that we face every day as managers and leaders with some of the most talented thought leaders and professionals in the industry. This program delivers immediate, powerful, and lasting value."
Stephen J. Mills [Assistant Vice President], Citigroup, U.S.